Portfolio Insights:“The Western Michigan University’s (the “University”) financial statements provides an overview of the University’s financial activities for the year ended June 30, 2013. Management has prepared the financial statements and the related footnote disclosures along with the discussion and analys.

The University invests its working capital to maximize total return, with an appropriate level of risk. The University’s holdings are invested in short-, intermediate-, and long-term investment pool accounts. The investment strategy governing the endowment assets seeks to maximize total return over the long run.” (Source)

1) The Western Michigan University Foundation saw the largest percent increase in market value of any Michigan university, according to the NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE). It grew to $262.3 million in during the 2012-2013 fiscal year — up 29 percent from the previous year, the NCSE found. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor had the largest endowment in the state, with $8.4 billion.

“We had the best fundraising year of our entire history last year,” said Jim Thomas, WMU’s vice president for development.

Meanwhile, Kalamazoo College reported the largest endowment of any Michigan college, according to the study, which surveyed 835 institutions of higher learning. Kalamazoo’s endowment in 2013 was at $192.3 million, with Albion College next with $167.3 million. (Source)

2) In 1976, a dedicated group of Western Michigan University alumni and friends foresaw the importance and necessity of private funding for public higher education—and the WMU Foundation was established. The Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that operates to raise funds for Western Michigan University. It exists as an independent agency to offer greater flexibility in fund management by operating as a private, not-for-profit corporation. The WMU Foundation serves the University by maintaining private fund accounts from one fiscal year to the next, as well as keeping the confidentiality of donor information. (Source)

3) The Office of Development & Alumni Relations was established to serve anyone who desires a deeper relationship with Western Michigan University. Within our office, we work to increase pride in the University while carrying out the important task of meeting the University’s philanthropic goals to provide a quality, affordable, state-of-the-art education for student Broncos. (Source)

4) The Western Michigan University Foundation operates as a charitable, nonprofit corporation exclusively for the benefit of Western Michigan University. The Foundation provides support to the University to accomplish its educational and civic purposes. Primary to the fiduciary responsibility of the Foundation is the management of the Foundation’s endowed assets. The Investment Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and is charged with supervisory authority over the investment of the endowed assets. The committee strives to maximize the financial return on it’s assets taking into account an acceptable level of risk with consider ation to opportunities for current and future generations of students. (Source)

5) The Western Michigan University Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that operates to raise funds for Western Michigan University. All gifts made to the WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine are processed, receipted and invested by the WMU Foundation. (Source)

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